Washington (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she would be "disappointed" in the American electorate if Hillary Clinton becomes a serious candidate for president in 2016.

The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee argued Clinton would not be right for the role as commander in chief after four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, died last year in a terrorist attack against a U.S. consulate in Benghazi.Follow @politicaltickerFollow @KilloughCNN

"If (Benghazi) doesn't have an impact on the 2016 presidential election, if she is a candidate, then America, I am very disappointed in our electorate," Palin said Sunday on Fox News, where she's a contributor.

She said "anyone who would just throw away 200 years of military ethos and leave our men behind to be murdered" should "never be considered as a commander in chief."

The lack of security at the consulate and the September 11, 2012 attack are poised to be a major point of contention by Republicans if Clinton decides to run for president. Clinton ultimately took responsibility for diplomats' safety, and was grilled before two congressional committees in January.

At one point she lost her temper while responding to questions from Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin. He was asking her about the erroneous, initial talking points that claimed the attack stemmed from a spontaneous protest against an anti-Islam video, though the administration later defined it as a terrorist attack and said a protest never happened.

"What difference at this point does it make?" Clinton responded. "It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator."

The attack on Benghazi is still a matter of congressional investigation by House Republicans.

"That's why I'm so grateful for Congress to be pursuing what happened in Benghazi," Palin said. "Because at this point, it still makes a difference what happens in Benghazi."

"Anyone who doesn't understand that and dismisses it as being indifferent, they should not be our commander in chief," she continued.

For her part, Clinton said in a recent interview with New York Magazine that she is in no hurry to decide about a potential 2016 bid for the White House, saying it is a decision "not to be made lightly."

Asked how she plans to combat any conflicts she may face related to her political legacy, she said the best course is to "find common ground."

"I have a lot of reason to believe, as we saw in the 2012 election, most Americans don't agree with the extremists on any side of an issue," Clinton said in the interview. "But there needs to continue to be an effort to find common ground, or even take it to higher ground on behalf of the future."

Palin's comments mark a stark contrast to high praise Clinton received Sunday from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who said if Clinton decides to run, "she will win."

"And when she becomes president, she'll be one of the best-equipped, best-prepared people to enter the White House in a very long time," Pelosi said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Noting Clinton's experience as secretary of state, as a U.S. senator from New York and as a first lady, Pelosi said Clinton would be "more prepared than President Obama; certainly more prepared than President Bush; certainly more prepared than President Clinton I might admit."

soundoff(1,017 Responses)

duh

Pot and kettle, Sarah, pot and kettle.

September 23, 2013 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

Lucy

@kiska k

You go grrl!!!! I couldn't have said it better....Thank you!!!
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Seriously? SERIOUSLY?
If this isn't a case of the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is.
Palin is unfit to be dogcatcher.
But, as an Alaskan, I can tell you that this is just another of her attention-getting stunts. We always see this stuff whenever she's feeling a little out of the limelight.
Of course, she doesn't say this stuff to the Alaska press anymore because everyone in Alaska just laughs at her and wishes she'd just disappear.

September 23, 2013 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

dave

She has my vote she has proven she can do the job. Of course the gop party and the tea party will say anything to try and discredit her but they all ready disqualified themselves when they opened their mouths

September 23, 2013 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

Anonymous

Saha ra ra pls run against Hillary. Can you do that Saha ra ra?

September 23, 2013 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

baltlaw

Sarah Palin saying Hillary Clinton isn't fit for the White House is one of the best arguments for Ms. Clinton ever.

September 23, 2013 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

JEFF

Does she even know where Benghazi is??? The American Electorate already made its decision on Palin! So who cares about what she thinks?

September 23, 2013 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

The Truth

The Brain has spoken again.... LOL

September 23, 2013 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

Stacy

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black... But at least Hilary never quit office in the middle of her term and as Secretary of State has more foreign policy experience in her nail clippings than Palin will ever have in her life.

September 23, 2013 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

sconger60

I am very tired of them calling it a consulate, it was not, it was a CIA site the ambassador was visting. One of the men killed was on the rescue team, there weren't any other assets available to get to them. Clinton did not order the ambassador to go there, it was his decision. The repuglicans are so desperate to find something to hurt the democrats with because they are scared to death how good obamacare is going to work once it fully kicks in they don't know what to do.

September 23, 2013 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

tlm

Why anyone publishes anything this empty head says anymore is beyond reason. She isn't fit to sweep streets and she talks about someone else. She has to be the most ignorant person in the Republican party and that is saying a lot given the choices.

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Mjomba

Really! This coming from someone who said she "could see Russia from her backyard". Palin is insignificant! No one pays attention to her anymore...

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

TKC

I hear a haterrrrrrr!!!! Sarah just wish she was HILLary, and we are READY for Hillary 2016. Sit down palin

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

patw210001

Any woman is unfit for the white house.

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Dieter621

Sarah Palin seem to be the only one that has the nerve to call a spade a spade. Clinton should be brought up on charges for the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi. Like Obama she will receive a pass from the media and be hailed as the next coming. The lies she told as First Lady seem to be forgotten. Her service as Sec. of State was a disaster, just look at US policies or should I say lack of policy direction. The Muslim Brotherhood was code named the Arab Spring and the Middle East is in flames. Christians are being killed and their churches burnt down while we watch without the White House or media saying a word. By the way, Clinton is no longer in politics either and should stay out.

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

FLAWIDA JACK

She;s disappointed about HC? What about the Community organizer in '08 that won the election, with no experience, in anything? Then, he had 4 years to prove he knew nothing. Who can be voting for this non = achiever? Oh, yeah!

September 23, 2013 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Phil

Why doesn't she say the same thing about Bush and the 9-11 memo's? She won't because he is of the same party.

September 23, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

John in Texas

Palin is unfit to even comment on the Presidency, especially as someone who couldn't fulfill her role as Governor of such a sparsely populate state as Alaska.

September 23, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

Allane K

Palin? I thionk the hair dye and mass amounts of make up has finally fried her brain.Can she still see Russia from her front yard????? Honet Hillary is more fit for the job than any of the GOP narrow mindsters trying to run this country!

September 23, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

To Anh Pham

Saraha Palin, sadly we feel the same way about you. Go Hillary!

September 23, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

Dragon Tattoo

Oh my GOD... when is this woman going to realize that she is completely embarrassing??? She doesn't give a flip about anyone except herself and her image. She even quit as Governor because she couldn't hack it.

September 23, 2013 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

Dolores Douglas

Does Sarah Palin know where Benghazi is? Who is unfit here? Palin is the biggest joke in politics. She's irrelevant.

September 23, 2013 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

jpceire

Ms Palin, you my dear woman, are not fit with anyone who has an IQ over 10. You are nothing to this nation now. Nothing. Shut up. Go away. Go eat your mooses and look for Putin on your patio.

September 23, 2013 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

Robb

Besides Palin being irrelevant she does have a point. why in the world would we as the electorate elect Hillary after the mess in Benghazi and other things that happened under watch abroad (probably a lot we are not privy to). I mean come on people why do continue to recycle the same old political jargon year after year?

September 23, 2013 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

ST

Hello Sarah do you know where is Benghazi? Is it in Asia or in Africa? What about South Africa? Is it a continent or a country?